From a distance, his canvas resembles an overview of a generic cityscape. It's only when you move closer to the frame that celebrated Turkish painter-academician Devrim Erbil's paintings reveal a detailed aerial view of Istanbul, Turkey, and iconic Turkish monuments.

Paintings at his ongoing exhibition in the city - in association with The Turkish Consulate - showcase a labyrinth of architectural elements such as palaces, mosques, minarets and bridges, along with some of his carpet work and abstract paintings. The artist stresses on the fact that the influence of his native land, Istanbul, is evident in his art. "Istanbul is not an ordinary city. It is mystical, rich in natural beauty and cultural wealth. It is therefore natural that it affects artists deeply," he says.

Erbil spent his early years in Spain, France and Italy, but his works have championed the cause of keeping his country's traditions alive. "Turkey, in its process of westernisation towards the early last century, had become distanced from its cultural values," says the 78-year-old artist, adding, "I believe that being contemporary, current and new in art does not mean you cut off from the past. On the contrary, understanding tradition well is an important advantage in being original in art. In this sense, when I visited the western countries, I did not just admire their art, but also tried to understand their tradition."

Erbil has made over 3,000 oil paintings alone. He says that his work of over six decades cannot be consolidated into a single exhibition featuring only 25 paintings. "This show will not be sufficient to describe my art. As an artist, art teacher and museum curator, I am a living witness of Turkish art for the past 60 years," says the veteran artist.